The length of time a linear actuator will function (i.e., service life) is critically important to a machine designer. Machines need to keep working reliably with little or no need for lengthy maintenance that will take a machine off-line . So, components like actuators must keep working.

The lumber industry has relied on the toughness and high force capabilities of hydraulic cylinders for years. But lately that reliance has been shaken. Hydraulic cylinders leak and can contaminate the fragile eco-systems in which lumber processing operates. Plus, hydraulic systems are only 40-55% efficient and cylinders require frequent maintenance. When combined, these factors can make hydraulic cylinders an expensive choice in the long run.

The introduction of electric high force linear actuators has given the lumber industry a new option for linear motion.

[WEBINAR]

Who doesn’t like to save money? We’re all in search of a good deal, but how do you define what’s good? If you buy something on the cheap but it falls apart in a short time, is that a good deal? Maybe it’s smarter to pay more for something that last longer and performs better.

Conveying systems are common in manufacturing. They can be straight-forward systems that take packages from point A to point B or complex ones for sorting and diverting. Systems used in food processing also must handle washdowns, a common practice in the industry.

As critical components, linear actuators must withstand the challenges of the application including environmental ones. Pneumatic cylinders have been used extensively in conveying. However, electric cylinder use is growing, fueled by demand for programmability and better accuracy.

When your application calls for a high force linear actuator, you may believe that your only choice is a hydraulic cylinder. Hydraulics have long been the leading choice for automation equipment needing high force. However, now there are electric high force linear actuators that offer important advantages over hydraulics in terms of performance and total cost of ownership. Watch this webinar, and you may want to reconsider the merits of using an electric rod actuator.

If you’re selecting an electric high force linear actuator, you may believe you know the answer to the question in the headline. The force transmission prowess of roller screws is well known. But before you go to the expense of a roller screw linear actuator, take a careful look at the application. You may find that a ball screw actuator will do the job. And that could mean significant savings.

Manufacturing environments can be challenging. There may be dust or metal shavings. There may be oil, coolant, or water. There may be corrosive agents like solvents, cleaners, and various chemicals and compounds.

All these factors impact the performance and life of components like electric linear actuators. Dust may clog the action or cause parts to wear out prematurely. Moisture may short electrical connections and cause rusting. Corrosive agents can eat away at housings, seals, fasteners, and more. Industrial environments call for industrial strength components.

A machine designer needs confirmation that a component will stand up to environmental factors.

Hydraulic cylinders are well-known linear motion workhorses in industrial machinery. They’re reliable, familiar, capable of high force, and affordable, but they’re not without disadvantages. The leading ones are fluid leaks, large footprint (with hydraulic power unit or HPU), cumbersome changeovers due to lack of programmability, and high maintenance costs.

The introduction of electric high force linear actuators means machine designers now have a choice. An electric rod actuator can replace a hydraulic cylinder and eliminate the need to clean up leaks.

What a machine designer needs to know

Machine designers who serve the food processing industry face a huge opportunity. Purchases of equipment are expected to grow 7% a year to around $70 billion by 2020.

Not surprisingly, consumer demand is fueling this growth, but equally important in the U.S. is the Food Safety Modernization Act or FSMA. This legislation requires that food processors be proactive on food safety, that is, they must identify potential hazards and mitigate them.

A major result of the FSMA has been stepped up cleaning requirements and increased demand for hygienic equipment. That equipment needs washdown-ready components like electric rod actuators.

Some linear actuator application requirements mean you have to go long. Long stroke, that is. Length of stroke is a critical factor in electric linear actuator selection. While some applications require moves of just inches or a few feet, others require moves of 10 feet or more. For an application requiring this kind of long stroke linear actuator, a belt driven rodless electromechanical actuator will be your solution.